Virginia Democrats pass proposed redistricting map as court battle ensues
Virginia Democrats have advanced and passed their proposed congressional redistricting map through teh full state legislature as an amendment to the budget, sending it to Gov. Abigail Spanberger to sign or veto. If enacted, the map would tilt 10 of Virginia’s 11 congressional districts to Democrats in the 2026 elections, a substantial shift from the current 5 Republican–6 Democratic split.The move comes amid ongoing court challenges to the map’s legality, with Republicans challenging both the redistricting plan and a separate push for a statewide referendum that would let the General Assembly redraw the map mid-decade. A special April election on a constitutional amendment could empower the General Assembly to redraw districts; if voters approve, the proposed map could become the default for the midterms. The article notes battleground districts that could be affected, such as Jen Kiggans’ district, and places the advancement in the context of recent Virginia voting patterns.
Virginia Democrats pass proposed redistricting map in midst of court battle
Virginia Democrats passed their proposed congressional map through the full state legislature on Friday as they await a court ruling on whether or not their redistricting move is legal.
The Democratic-controlled state House and Senate passed the map this week, as an amendment to the state budget, along party lines, sending it to Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) for her to sign or veto. The proposed map would favor Democratic candidates in 10 of the 11 districts throughout the state by the 2026 elections, marking a significant swing for a state that currently has five Republican and six Democratic Representatives.
Virginia voters are scheduled, pending a current court battle, to vote in an April special election on a constitutional amendment that would give the General Assembly the authority to redraw the state’s congressional map mid-decade. If Virginians vote yes on the referendum, the proposed map passed Friday would likely be the congressional map in place for the midterm elections, if approved by Spanberger.
But the Virginia GOP still has a chance to fight the redistricting move in court. The Republican National Committee filed a lawsuit on Wednesday challenging the state Supreme Court’s decision to move forward with a special election.
“It does not ‘restore fairness’ to replace a nonpartisan redistricting process through an independent commission with a partisan one through a body that is made up of a majority of only one political party,” the RNC lawsuit reads. “And it does not ‘restore fairness’ to submit a proposed constitutional amendment to Virginia voters that is a ‘blatant abuse of power.’”
Virginia House Speaker Don Scott told VPM News that he expects Spanberger to sign the amendment with the proposed map into law by Saturday or Monday. He said the map is a way for Virginia Democrats to fight back against redistricting plans in GOP states like Texas, backed by President Donald Trump.
“Virginia has to fight back,” Scott told the outlet. “We can’t stand by and do nothing but to do everything in our power to level the playing field.”
Reps. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) and Ben Cline (R-VA) joined as plaintiffs in the RNC lawsuit. Griffith’s seat in southwest Virginia is likely the safest Republican stronghold under the Democratic-proposed map, as he has won his seat in the past two election cycles by over 45% margins.
VIRGINIA DEMOCRAT RUNNING FOR NEW HOUSE SEAT CREATED BY HIS OWN REDISTRICTING PLAN
But several closer, battleground districts are at risk of switching under the new map, including Rep. Jen Kiggans’s (R-VA) district in the Southeast, as she faces a comeback challenge from former Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA).
Virginia voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election by a 5.2% margin, with Harris garnering 51.8% of the vote compared to GOP candidate Donald Trump’s 46.6%. Her margin was much closer than that of President Joe Biden’s 10-point swing in the state in 2020.
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